What's in your toolbox?

Junior

Junior

Member
Almost finished with my Model A restore and I look forward to driving it quite a bit this fall. These will be mostly short trips back and forth to work and church until I gain more confidence. Hopefully by next spring I will be taking her on longer trips on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Here is a list of what I as a newbie plan to stock in my toolbox. Please add to it if you can as I know some of you have been stuck at some point and wish you had this or that in your toolbox.

Basic Tools (Wrenches, Pliers, Screw Drivers, Small Hammer, etc)
Spare Fuses
Tire Gauge
Hand Crank/Lug Wrench
Spare Points
Spare Condenser
Sandpaper for Points
Duct Tape
Mechanics Handbook
Spare Quart of Oil
Spare Spark Plug
Rags
Bailing Wire
Spare Light Bulbs
Flash Light
 
test light
some lenghts of wire 16-18 gauge
wire cutters
electrical tape
small socket / ratchet set
xtra carburetor if available
 
fusee/flair, hose set and clamps, cel phone, couple wood blocks, fan belt, set of extra spark plugs, water pump packing, tire tube, tube patch repair kit, axle key, tire pump........fire extinguisher.....couple wheel nuts, jack knife/swiss army knife...
 
My wife's favorite Model A tools are a good book and her cell phone. I take almost everything mentioned above but seldom need any of it. A couple of years ago on a long tour I had 2 rebuilt waterpumps with me and ended up selling both to other Model Aers on the trip.
 
Junior,
You might need a one wheel trailer to haul that much stuff! Don't forget a trusty test light & you could mount a big vise on the back bumper! Bill W.
 
In the trunk of my Model A, is a Crescent wrench, Pliers, Screw Drivers, Crank/Lug Wrench, Jack, Quart of Oil, Set of new Spark Plugs Coveralls, Water, McGuires Quik-Detail w/cloth, and parade items.

In my 41 Ford Tudor, having a flathead V8 in it, just about everything you can think of, including Fix-A-Flat, lawn chairs, and the most important item, a spare electric fuel pump.

Have had the car 13 years, only problem is every 2 to 3 years the fuel pump goes out. The rest of the stuff is for everyone else. It's going to be thinned out this winter.

I also carry my AAA card, which I purchased for the first time this year.

I've been told that the '41 Ford is the last car Ford made with a hole in the grill and radiator, to crank start. I have no intentions of cranking a V8 flattie.
 
I keep an extra set of spark plugs,points,a can of carb cleaner,basic tools a jack,lug wrench, water pump and gasket, distributorcap and rotor setup,and fealer gadge. I keep a sparkplug gap tool on my keychain at all times. O and I would put a small file in your box for the points cause the sand paper grit can keep the points from working if your not careful
 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
Junior,
You might need a one wheel trailer to haul that much stuff! Don't forget a trusty test light & you could mount a big vise on the back bumper! Bill W.
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I am with Bill on this one except you might need to get a two wheel trailer for all of those recommened spare parts. You said "short trips to work and church" and some of the suggestions are more appropiate for an around the world trip.

Routine and regular maintaince is more important than carrying three hundred pounds of spare parts and tools, especially for short trips around town.

You will LOVE driving your Model A on the Blue Ridge Parkway! I am on some part of it at least once a week in a Model A or on my classic motorcycle.
 
The space under my seat is full, the Items that are there include some that came with the car, I keep a screwdriver on the package shelf, somewhere there is a pair of vicegrips ---the original tool set, jack, aftermarket era grease gun is on top, somewhere thare is at least 1 set of nos points, a nos late style 2 blade fan, waterpump, 1 new A&L condenser, a connecting rod, some wire, bulbs, shock link and tie rod internal parts, some screws that I never figured where they go when I restored the car.

When I have had "breakdowns" and I don't have what I need I go for a walk looking along side the road, usually within 1000 feet you can find something, I don't take much in tools ---people that stop to look and "help" are happy to go and get tools, or call a friend with tools.

The only part I have used on a trip is a condenser.
 
Couple extra condensors, dizzy cam wrench, screw driver, Crescent wrench, Lug-wrench/crank, oil, water, tire pump, patch kit, tire irons, roll of gaffer's tape, roll of e-tape.

Cel-phone and AAA card.

That's been my kit for the last 3 years / 8,000 miles...

Only had to call for help once, on way back from Macungie in a monsoon-rain; car simply got drowned and would not go any further (electrical gremlins and water-sprites)... only time we've come home "on the hook".

SC Frank
 
Instead of a flashlight with a bulb, get one of the newer LED ones, they are cheap and give a lot of light. The 27 Led variety also have a magnet, works on older vehicles, but the new plastic ones may not have a place to attach. You do not need a feeler gage for setting points as the brass connectors from the plug to distributor are .020 which is close enough to points.
 
Instead of hauling a spare twenty pound starter, I have the hand crank. Lost many a bendix bolt, and really appreciate the origional tool that is meant to be with the car.
 
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Great Lakes Greg said:
Instead of hauling a spare twenty pound starter, I have the hand crank. Lost many a bendix bolt, and really appreciate the origional tool that is meant to be with the car.
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I've never had to change out a bendix bolt but I am curious about the use of the "original tool" being appreciated. I do carry the original tool list and use it when necessary for small repairs but really want to know of this and other uses exclusive to the original tool kit.

Please, do tell..............and thank you
 
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